Dispensing container for liquid and powder



June 14, 1960 c. H. NELSON DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR LIQUID AND POWDER Filed Sept. so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHRIST/AN H. NELSON ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960 c. H. NELSON 2,940,420

DISPENSING CONTAINER FDR LIQUID AND POWDER Filed Sept. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHRIS 7' IAN H. NELSON Ice Patented June 14, 1960 DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR LIQUID AND POWDER Christian Hans Nelson, 1725 N St. NW., Washington, D.C.

Filed Sept. 30, 1958,861'. No. 764,441

2 Claims. (Cl. 118265) This invention relates to a dispensing container for liquid and powder. More specifically, this invention relates to a container comprising a resilient bowl supported on a rigid mound-shaped base. Downward urging of the bowl over the mound-shaped base forces fluid material within the bowl upwardly through dispensing openings in the top of the bowl.-

An object. of this invention is to provide a dispensing container comprising a resilient container having a rigid top member joined thereto by novel means, said means being adapted to seal the two parts together in a simple and foolproof fit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel means for attaching the base of a resilient dispensing container to the resilient container, whereby as the dispenser is operated greatest possible economy of the dispensed material is effected.

This invention embodies other features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispenser embodying the invention having part of the structure broken away;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the top member of the dispenser;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the base of the dispenser with the container removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the distortion of the bowl about the base during the dispensing movement;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modification of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 adapted for use with pulverulent material and having a cover member in place thereon;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5 with the cover and part of the applicator removed;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the dispenser shown in Fig. 5 distorted in the dispensing movement; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the attachment of the top member to the side of the bowl.

Briefly, the invention is a dispensing container for liquids or pulverulent solids comprising a resilient bowl. Secured in the mouth of the bowl is a rigid disk having a dispensing opening therein. The bowl sits on and is secured to a rigid mound-shaped base whereby when the top of the dispensing container is forced downwardly, the sides of the bowl collapse about the mound-shaped base and the material within the dispenser is forced up through the dispensing opening.

More specifically, an embodiment of the invention is 7 shown in Fig. 1, and generally designated 10. 'It comprises a resilient bowl 12. The bowl sits on and is supported by a mound-shaped base 14 having a concave recess 16 at the summit thereof. As shown in Fig. 1, the

concave recess meet in an annular ridge 18. The base has a central aperture 20.

The means of attachment of the bowl to the base in the preferred embodiment comprise a nipple-shaped protuberance 22 formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the resilient bowl. The nipple has an enlarged head with a reduced neck. In attachment, the nipple-shaped protuberance 22 is drawn through the aperture 2% until it enlarges on the opposite side of the base 14 from the bowl to hold the bowl to the base. The ridge 18 keeps the bowl from falling laterally. Thus the nipple 22 and the ridge 18 combine to hold the bowl in position on the base. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, the bowl has an inwardly extending flange 24 about the mouth thereof. Preferably, the flange is tapered, being thicker adjacent the walls of the bowl than at the distal edge. The flange provides means for support of atop member 26. The top is generally disk-shaped and comprises a substantially flat bottom 28, an upwardly and inwardly directed web member 30 and an outwardly and slightly downwardly extending upper flange 32. The bottom wall 28 and the intermediate web member 30 are connected by an inner bend 34 and the intermediate web member 30 and the upper flange 32 are connected by an outer bend 36. In more general terms, the top member 26 comprises a disk having an outwardly directed pocket 38 about the outer periphery thereof, the pocket being formed. between the intermediate web 30 and the outwardly extending upper flange 32.

The pocket 38 comprises the means by which the top is attached to the bowl. In the installation of the top on the bowl, the flange 24 is forced into the pocket much in the way a rubber tire is installed on a It has been found that this novel and simple installation means eifectively holds by itself or by use of an adhesive the top member 26 firmly and simply against displacement from its position in the mouth of the bowl.

As shown in Fig. 2, the top in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l is formed with a plurality of relatively small holes 44) in the bottom wall thereof. Through these holes the fluid material within the bowl is dispensed. Also, for reasons which will later be explained, a plurality of tiny breather holes 42 may be formed in the top in the inner bend 34.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to dispense liquid, and, therefore, a sponge 44 is disposed on the top thereof. Means for holding the "sidewalls of the mound-shaped base and the wallsof the sponge securely comprise a retaining ring 48. In cross section the retaining ring 48 is of distorted U-shape wherein the legs of the U are inclined in a direction outwardly from the center of the ring whereby the ring is adapted to hook under the outer bend 36 of the top, releasably held in place by such engagement. The inner leg of the U terminates in an inwardly extending lip 50 which roughly has the shape of the sponge in the area it overlies and assists further in holding the sponge in position. Both the bight of the U-shaped ring and the inner leg, then, press down on the sponge in an annular zone to hold it firmly in place. The outer leg of the U-shaped ring terminates in an outwardly directed lip 52 which overlies and engages the outwardly extending upper flange 32 of the top.

The dispenser, according to Fig. l, is shown in its dispensing movement in Fig. 4. A downward pressure on the top of the dispenser forces the resilient side walls of the bowl to form themselves about the mound-shaped base whereby the upwardly extending configuration of the base is impressed on the bottom of the bowl, displacing liquid and causing the liquid level within the bowl to rise with respect to the top so that liquid is spewed upwardly through the holes 40 in the bottom wall of the top. The liquid emitted may dampenor thoroughly saturate the sponge 44 or other dispensing absorbent disposed on the top'depe nding on how far down the top is urged; v 7

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5

is siniilar to-the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 Foi: simplicity, parts of the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 5 through 7 are designated by the primed form of the numeral desig i the COHeSPOBdiHgpM in' the embodiment" of the invention shown iri FigS. l

throughA. exception to the similarity' of the two a gagaq 4 I "j 1", T

1 41 especially in the area adiacent the dispensing holes. -When the downward force is releasedzfrom the top of the bowl, the natural orientation of the bowl will tend to return'it to the shape shown in Fig. 1. However, the

damp sponge will block the holes 40 refusing reentry of air into the'bowl. To some degree the breather holes 42 therefore provide peripheral means .to permit enembodiments is that the bottom wall is formed with one relatively large'holes54 rather than a plurality of, smaller holes in order to make the device adapted for use with 'pulveru'lent material.

7 This permits a large volume of powder to, contact the underside of a powder .pad applicator 58 positioned on the. top. The periphery of i the hole is provided preferably'with an upwardly directed lip 56. This lip serves not only more firmly to position the applicator laterally with respect to the top and 'to prevent sideways slippage thereof, but also to provide an annular seal, biting into the underside of the applicator pad in an annular zone, preventingoutwardly lateral seepage of the air displaced as the bowl is urged down;

By obviating lateral seepage, there is assurance that the pulverulent rnaterial will be"blown upwardly into the applicator pad, forcing adherence'to the pad by the pulverulent material in the circular area of the. hole.

A second difference between the device'shown in Fig. l and the dispenser of Fig. 5 is the provision of the cover '1 member 60. v The cover member is applied to the top as .is the retaining ring 48 of the first embodiment. Instead of being of annular shape, open in the center, however, the cover is closed. The c'overivhen applied-thus. eliminates leakage of the pulverulent material and displace ment of the pad from its position on the top. The cover is especially useful when the dispenser is being .transported,-as in a'suitcas'e.- It also seals the dispenser,

preventing deterioration of the contents.

'Fig. 72 shows the dispensing movement of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5. Here again, as in the first embodiment, as the'bowl is forced downwardree a r a'q intqt -l t lQW- tha wl. to return to it's "normal shape, ,Iomakethe-passage of air back into the bowl even easier, in certain applications p m y. be p ov ded W th a ra intake aperture a and the sponge immediately "thereabove may have a hole partially therethrough. U The breather holes 42 in theembodiment of the 'invention shown in F ig. 1: additionally serve as. drain holes for overflow liquid which might accumulate in the annular flood and around the sponge and under the ring 48,. It can readily be seen 'that as-the'bowlreturns to Q its natural shape the suction created within the bowl will pull the overflow liquid through these drain holes.

7 A modification of the attachment means of the top to the mouth of the bowl is shown in Fig. :8. In this embodiment the upper edge of the resilient bowl 12" is thickened as at 62 to "make it substantially rigid. The exterior of the edge is coarsely threaded a short distance theredown. To mate with this threaded area, the outer flange of the top 26" is formed with a depending skirt 64 which is correspondingly threaded whereby the top 7 may be screwed-on to :the bowl. a d

For permanence in addition to the means for'attaching the top 26 to the bowl, adhesives may be used.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the base and thetop of my dispensing container are formed of polystyrene; or the like, a rigid or semi-rigid plastic. Contrasted therewith, the resilient bowl member is formed of silicon, rubber or any resilient material. The cover and retaining ring may be made from polyethylene, 'a

ly, the resilient sidewalls and bottom of the bowl conform to theshape. of the base in this case displacing a.

along withr displaced air through the large opening 54 to contact the pad 58. subsequentlm-release of the downof the applicator covered with pulverulent material.

volume ofpulverulent material and forcing it upward.

V ward pressure leaves a circular :area of the underside Besides properly supporting the bowl, there is an addi- ,tional advantageinhere'nt in the concave recess 16 in the top of thebase. When my invention isused to dispense.

powder itcan readilybe seen that if only. a small quantity of powder remains in the bowl it'will stay positioned in the center of the bowl as the bowl is 'urged downwar'dly (see Fig. 7). Itiwill remain in this position because the center of the bottorn of the bowl, being held down by the nipple 22 retains the concave shape of the summit of the mound. 7 Thus, because the contents in, its

the last little'bit of powder will not fall down away from the center of the bottom of the bowl'as it would if the base had no recess, it instead continuously remains in the center of the bowl in a pile, accessab-leto the bottom of the applicator 58. This feature obviously efiects uniform dispensing action and economy in utilizing the complete contents or the dispenser powder. i

' Iffdesired,'theapplicator may have a cover layer 'on {the'top thereof "to not'only block passage of powder Completely through the pad but also add a desirable touch-of color to thedevice. Y i

. The need for the breatherholes 42in the inner bend V of the top member in the first embodiment will be semi-rigid plastic; pliant enough to permit distortion for its insertion under the outer bend of the top to hold it releasablyinposition. 1 7 he The uses of the dispensing containers ofmy invention are practically limitless. The f use of the embodiment pictured in Figsfl-through-4 include moistening means for postage stamps, finger-moistening meansfor use by persons engaged: in dispensing money or'l eafing pages, lotion dispensing means wherein the sponge applicator installed in the top could be applied directly; to the parts of the body. It can be used as a dispenser applying polish directly to the top of the surface to be polished,and as a dispenser for a room deodorant whereby the sponge may be permeated with the deodorant by the simple 'depression of the top. Equally useful, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 through 7 can be made to dispense face powder, orany of thousands of other pulverulent materials used in' the home and industry.

A consideration of this multitude of uses coupled with V the simple structure and ease of operation of my disemptying process consistently falls toward the center, 7

" silient bowl having asubstantially hemispherical shape in its undistorted disposition, arelatively rigid top-member-'secured'across thetop of said bowl, a pad supported on said top member, said top member havinga dispensing" opening therein, said top member being substantially apparent now from examination of Fig. 1.' As the 'topis V depressed, air first, 'then'liquid will betemitted through e news n 49- as hen ti seeas wide as the widest-part of said ,bowl,"a rigid base member, said base member'having downwardly sloping sides, the upper parttof'said base member normally ,engaging from beneath the perimeter of an" area on, the

underside of the bowl, said base member thus holding said perimeter against movement in a downward direction, means for holding the center of said area in fixed position relative to said rigid base member, all points on said perimeter being considerably within the downward projection of the perimeter of said rigid top member, whereby when the top member of the bowl is urged downward, the portion of the bowl outward of the perimeter engaged by said base moves downwardly against the downwardly sloping sides of said base member.

2. A dispensing container for fluids comprising a resilient bowl having a substantially hemispherical shape in its undistorted disposition, a relatively rigid top member secured across the top of said bowl, a pad supported on said top member, said top member having a dispensing opening therein, said top member being substantially as wide as the widest part of said bowl, a rigid base member, said base member having downwardly sloping sides, the upper part of said base member normally engaging from beneath the perimeter of an area on the underside of the bowl, said base member thus holding said perimeter against movement in a downward direction, means for holding the center of said area in fixed position relative to said rigid base member, the inside of said bowl immediately above said area comprising a recess concave upwardly, all points on said perimeter of said area. being considerably within the downward projection of the perimeter of said rigid top member, whereby when the top member is urged downward, the portion of the bowl outward of the perimeter engaged by said base moves downwardly against the downwardly sloping sides of said base member, and said recess remains concave upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS j Sweden Apr. 28, 1938 

